One Rockies fan's perspective

Colorado Rockies Week Five Review: May 4-10

It was a rainy, depressing week at Coors Field.Photo Credit: John Leyba – The Denver Post

After a tough week in week four, it seemed as if there was nowhere to go but up for the Colorado Rockies. Unfortunately, that was not the case. After another abysmal week that saw the team go winless and stretch their season-worst losing streak to nine games, everyone in the clubhouse is left searching for answers.

A very rainy/snowy week in Denver started off with the Rockies trying and failing to play the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday and Tuesday night. Monday’s game has yet to officially be rescheduled, though early September looks like it might be a good fit to get the game in. Tuesday night’s game was made up as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday. The doubleheader was one that the Rockies would like to forget. They weren’t competitive in either game, falling behind 9-0 early in game one and failing to get anything going offensively in game two against Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray, owner of an 8.16 career ERA coming into the game. With more rain and snow in the forecast and a series against the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers up next, things didn’t appear to be on the verge of getting any better for the Rockies.

With the weather being more or less the same as it was earlier in the week, the series with the Dodgers was also shortened by rain. The first game of the series was a 2-1 loss that lasted just five innings before the rains came and was perhaps the most frustrating loss of the losing streak for the Rockies.

With sheets of rain coming down in the fifth inning, the Rockies trailed by a run in what looked to be their last shot to tie the game up before a rain delay. It started when manager Walt Weiss inexplicably kept lefty-killer Wilin Rosario on the bench and instead allowed starting pitcher Eddie Butler to hit against left-handed Brett Anderson, even though it was clear that the game was about to be stopped and Butler’s day would be done. He would ground out weakly to second base. Then, after Charlie Blackmon walked and stole second with two outs, Corey Dickerson hit an infield single up the middle while Blackmon attempted to score from second. The throw beat Blackmon to the plate, but he appeared to slide in safely under the tag. Still, home plate umpire Tim Timmons called Blackmon out. Weiss challenged the call, but despite several replay angles showing Blackmon getting his foot in before the tag, the out call was upheld and the inning was over. The Rockies wouldn’t get another chance to hit in the game.

After the second game of the series was postponed, this time due to a mix of rain and snow, the loss in game three was frustrating in its own way. The offense scored five runs against reigning NL MVP and Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, but the Rockies pitching staff would continue to show a troubling lack of command, walking 10 Dodgers en route to allowing nine more runs while increasing their league-worst BB/9 to 4.03 and their league-worst ERA- to 121.

It was not a fun week, but just like last week I’ll do my best to at least find some sort of positives that came from it. Here are the players of the week.

Rockies position player of the week: Nick Hundley – 10 PA, .444/.400/.889, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 212 wRC+
In case you needed any further evidence that getting games in was tough this week, Nick Hundley is the player of the week despite having just 10 PA. With a 130 wRC+ on the season so far, Hundley has been the best hitter on the team in the first five weeks. Take a look at his home run on Wednesday afternoon against the Diamondbacks:

Longest Rockies home run of the week: Drew Stubbs – 435 feet
Within the context of the game, this home run was about as meaningless as a home run can be. It cut the Rockies’ deficit from 12-3 to 12-5 in the eighth inning against the Diamondbacks. For Stubbs though, it had to feel good to do something positive after what has been the roughest start to a season in his career. Plus, long home runs are fun to watch. This one is the third longest hit by a Rockie so far this year. Enjoy!

Rockies pitcher of the week:Jordan Lyles – 1 start, 7 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, BB, 6 K
I know, I know. Those numbers aren’t even very good. I was really close to not awarding a pitcher of the week at all this week, but I decided that Lyles did just enough good things to deserve it. For starters, four runs in seven innings at Coors Field isn’t THAT bad, and even going seven innings at all has been a feat for Rockies starters so far this season. In addition to that, Lyles was one misplayed ball by Charlie Blackmon away from allowing one run in seven innings, and then we’re looking at a really good outing. He also had a strong K/BB ratio, something we haven’t seen much of from Rockies starters this season. For that, he gets pitcher of the week for the third time this season. Unfortunately, no video from his start is available.

That about does it for week five and I can’t say I’m upset about putting that week in the rear view mirror. Here’s hoping for some better things next week, maybe even a win or two! Be sure to take a look ahead at week six (it has to get better at some point, doesn’t it?) and don’t forget to subscribe, like View from the Rooftop on Facebook and follow on Twitter.